Firepod Preamp Question

May be a dull, dumb question but I have to ask it none the less. Just bought a firepod to enable me to do mobile recordings and record practices and rehearsals with it connected to my laptop. It arrived yesterday - I installed everything and set up an array of 8 mics to do some test recordings to see how it ran with my laptop and everything...to my surprise I found the preamps to be running ridiculously hot with high levels going into sonar. I took my sm-57 and just began to sing into it at a normal volume level and the meters in sonar are hitting the red and clipping even with the preamp gain all the way down. I tested every preamp channel and with every channel I yielded the same results. I must have missed something small and stupid but this is throwing me for a loop here. How can I fix this level problem? It seems like the input levels are somehow too high or too hot for Sonar...I appreciate the help. I have to admit this is my first experience with the world of Firewire. I have all Motu Pci-based gear so it could be I'm misunderstanding something here. Thanks in advance everyone who helps offer solutions.